ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety of ketamine combined with propofol in total intravenous anesthesia for spastic cerebral palsy children undergoing neural stem cell transplantation.MethodsSixty ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ spastic cerebral palsy children, aged 1-12 years old, were to undergo neural stem cell transplantation. Anesthesia was induced with propofol 1.5-2 mg/kg and ketamine 1-2 mg/kg, iv, and maintained with target controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol 30-40 μg·kg-1·min-1 and ketamine 10-30 μg·kg-1·min-1. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) were observed during operation. The consciousness loss time, awakening time, anesthetic effect, and adverse reaction were recorded.ResultsThere were no significant differences in MAP or HR before and after infusion. The patients had decreased RR and SpO2 at 1 min and 3 min after infusion, but there is no significant difference compared with before infusion. Consciousness loss time was (50.5±9.1) s and the awakening time was (15.3±3.6) min. The effect of anesthesia was satisfactory in all the children. There was no writhing, nausea, vomiting or salivating. Three cases had respiratory inhibition and one had choke cough during operation. ConclusionKetamine combines with propofol is safe, controllable and has less side effects in total intravenous anesthesia for spastic cerebral palsy children undergoing neural stem cell transplantation.